The aim of the paper is to provide an analysis on the different artist’s production that negotiates the medium of the photography. The main focus of this paper will remain on the photography that how it has served as model and anti-model for the modern artists. In addition, the new approaches will enable the hybrid media with inventions. A much narrowed concept in the modern times can be the usage of photo editing software. In the present times, it was merely acceptable but the development in the idea of using such software caused a lot of change and radicalism. Some of the popular artists who have negotiated with the medium of art include Morris, Bourgeois, Christopher Bruke, Huszar, and Lissitzky. These artists will be thoroughly evaluated in the following sections.
The first thing to notice in Morris's Whitney photography is that the artistic approach was there in a simple and common man. It is the reason that allowed him to create such artistic pieces. In addition, it can be analyzed after watching his production that he wanted to highlight the real-life objects with little unique and enhanced features. He preferred to present some scenarios from factory. Morris's story is the perfect example of his work, and it provides the understanding of his viewpoints for his photography. Morris's Whitney exhibition he actually used photography to show the realism. Gloves, stained people with sweat on their face, wood pieces and working processes can be found in his photography. He has negotiated with the form of photography, but he remains loyal to the standards. It can be said that the hard-hat riots photography by Morris is depicting the art of the people. His photography is depicting the efforts of the labor force in a factory during work. He covered different events to redefine the photography (Bryan-Wilson).
Lissitzky's seemed to have introduced new concepts at a time when enlarging paintings was considered as radicalism. He tends to work with photomontage and photo collage to show the expressionist to the masses. It was merely the era of industrialization where communication became essential. At the same time, critics and buyers of the paintings believed that using photography with the techniques of photomontage and photo collage was damaging the values and the definition of cubism. His work introduced the historical irony it was a revolution in the field of photography. The reason is that he used various mediums of photography. His photographs involve different ideas and different stories. It can be noticed that Lissitzky's photography doesn’t involve people, whereas, the hard-hat riots served photographs of people. Therefore, it will not be incorrect to state that Lissitzky's production is also negotiating the mediums of photography (Buchloh).
One of the famous artists is Bourgeois, he is known for sculptures photography (Janson and Janson). He got famous for his artistic approaches because he captured those images that were sculptures. Although, he presented those simple sculptures which were considered as common objects, however, the way he highlighted each feature was beautiful. His photography is the perfect example of different mediums of photography. Bourgeois emphasized spatial and perceptual continuity in his photography. His work is a reflection of the simple yet different object (Chéroux).
Another famous photography is done by Huszar as he captured the Mechanical Dancing Figure and a plastic drama from De Stijl. It is the said that dolls belong to most popular art. Therefore, Huszar captured unique pieces of dancing dolls. Herein, it should be noted that the dancing pieces and figures were the creation of another artist which he was displaying at the museum. Although, it was unique, but it was placed in Amsterdam due to which its beauty and uniqueness were hidden. Thus, Huszar captured these unique figures and organized an exhibition to promote that ancient collection. It was a point in which Huszar photography was negotiating the production of the artist with the medium of photography. Later on, the photography of that dancing figure of De Stijl became popular with the name of “The Dancing Madonna” (Ericksenn).
While analyzing the photographs of De Stijl movement, the plastic drama was most famous piece of Huszar. It can be said that the contradiction is involved because of the limitations of static medium. The reason is that the critics highlighted this point that a sense of movement should remain in the museum as it is an original piece. However, it can be said that the photographs and its mediums negotiated the artists’ products (Hannavy).
Christopher Bruke is a photographer who took the picture of C.Y that was Bronze and nails. Although, the artist of the object tried to present his thoughts and ideas in an innovative manner, but Bruke photograph was appreciated more than the artist (Wells). The reason is that the mediums of photography that he used were more appealing. It was the reason due to which it will not be incorrect to state that the artists’ products are negotiating the medium of photography (Nixon).
Herein, it should be noted that the collection of photography that is being discussed in this paper is depicting the models and anti-model for the modern artists. It can be noticed that some new approaches have been used by the artists and photographers that are highlighting the hybrid media with different and unique inventions. While analyzing the Lissitzky photographic pieces, it can be said that he used modern, innovative ideas by introducing the photo collage concept. Similarly, Morris’s Whitney is depicting the realism by highlighting the efforts of the labor class and people at the factory (Troya). It will not be incorrect to state that the Bourgeois is also used a unique medium of photography by displaying photography of plastic drama and dancing Madonna. After analyzing the photographic images by Bourgeois, it can be said that he emphasized on spatial and perceptual continuity by displaying the pictures of sculptures. The evaluation of photographs by Christopher Bruke suggests that the medium of photography he used are also negotiating with the artist’s production (Trepte, Becker, and Ranné).
Through the above analysis, it can be well stated that the photographers had been introducing newer concepts when it came to the usage of the medium of photography. Many people or art critics believed it to be extremely cynical view and a manner of radicalism. Therefore, the development underlying the aspect of photography and art has a critical history. In addition, it can be said that the newer additions or the negotiations made by the artists with the mode of photography had somewhat an effective impact on the modern standards of photography. The aspiring and promising photographers can understand the radicalism that photographers showed in the past as the ancestral blessing for them.
Works Cited
Bryan-Wilson, Julia. "Hard Hats and Art Strikes: Robert Morris in 1970." The Art Bulletin 89.2 (2007): 333-359.
Buchloh, Benjamin H. D. "Faktura to Factography." The MIT Press 30.1 (1984): 82-119.
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